Oaxaca Artists Develop Community Mural

La Cartita --- Ruta Mural is a community public art project that is restoring damaged walls around Oaxaca, Mexico with public murals! We paint large murals in public spaces with the help of local and visiting community. Recently, the region of Oaxaca has been beleaguered by natural and social phenomena that has damaged public and private properties. In the past 18 months, social strife, state repression and earthquakes has damaged the picturesque ambiance of the state.

'Ruta Mural' works with and for the community here in Mexico.

The project Ruta Mural is led in part by Jesus Kobe, a Oaxacan artist that has conducted similar community works in California, Germany and Mexico. Always collaborative, Kobe will be the first to say that he does not work alone. In an increasingly materialistic society, community art is a new form of awakening a more collaborative and self less spirit.

Ultimately, murals have a unique and powerful impact on society because they invite collective voices to be heard and expressed thanks to the involvement of community members. Political statements take on a new life, changing the psychology of those expressing themselves.

The murals preserve the values of a community; a permanent mural reaffirms these values, and a special psychological gain is had when damages structures are transformed into symbols and art.

Ruta Mural is working with 380 square meters mural painting. We are halfway done and the icon photo is one such structure. We have completed with our current resources, granted from community and private donors.

Unfortunately, OAXACA does not have public (government) support for public works or the arts: For now, they still have some needs like scaffolds, video, transportation, the meal for the people working, rollers, brushes and spray cans. With this financing, we intend to pay for materials and those local artists who can not afford to work at a loss.

A Go Fund Me has been established to help the artists break even as they continue to promote native Oaxacan culture amidst a anglized and hispanic heavy tourist industry.